I have watched the Oscar’s each year since I was eleven. There were films nominate in the best picture category that I never of heard of during that year at that age. But simply by watching the Oscar’s telecast each year I felt I was being educated. I remember waiting days, months or even years to watch a film that the Academy felt was worthy of such distinction. I learnt something uniquely wonderful about each nominated film and I never question why they were nominated. But this week I started to question the list of films nominated. It seems with the inclusion of 10 instead of 5 films select, the Oscar’s are beginning to lose something precious – its authority on what should compete for best picture. This year it has break from its traditions to suit the masses.

Reviewing the list of films nominated it’s clear that only four films were special and deserving the honour of being in competition. These films are “Up in the Air”, Precious, The Hurt Locker, District 9. It is my humble opinion I believe the winner will be selected from one of these 4 tiles. Each film was unique in its delivery, well directed and acted but the most important it gripped their audiences like no other film in the best picture category (with exception to A Single Man and An Education…I’ve still yet to see out of the 10 nominees)

It would be terrible of me to discount the greatest blockbuster film of all time “Avatar”…in fact I’m quite proud of Canadian James Cameron’s achievement in producing his vision and making box office history. But when it comes to balancing its creative merit its impossible not to see that Avatar was a deeply rooted colonialist story badly scripted. Its theme and characters were far from a good representation of Native people and their culture.

Right behind Avatar is another first “UP” the animated film that open the Festival de Cannes. I felt this was the most annoying animation I have ever watched and perhaps watching it in the way it was intended could only amount to 3(D) times more annoying. But the question is why nominated it twice (Best Picture & Best Animation). It just becomes a waste of a nomination. It will certainly not win Best Picture and this meant that another film could have had the glory of that nominated slot. – Yes …sadly!

Rounding out the rest is Inglorious Bastard…not Quentin’s best film but it gave us a wonderful performance by Christoph Waltz as the funny yet clever Nazi. And props should also be given to Sandra Bullock for her performance in The Blind Side which made the film a wise choice in recognition in the Best Picture category. The last two films (A Single Man and An Education)I did not see and I reverse judgment until I do – which gives me about a month before the Oscars. 

However, if I was a gambling man I would probable put my money on “The Hurt Locker”. It is an intense war film that received a small theatrical release. No pun intended but it “literally” blew me away. Director Kathryn Bigelow deserved the DGA award and I also hope on the night of the Oscar she could walk away as best director. Equally intense was the film Precious…I did my best to spread the word on both these films. Lee Daniels is great at understanding dark complex relationship where love is still at the center of it all. Daniels is now the only second black director to be nominated in Oscar history (the first John Singleton). Up in the Air and District 9 both paint a scary reality of what plagues America (lost of  jobs) and South Africa (racism/once apartheid).

Looking back in time to a slightly educated boy – age 11, my plate would have been full with 10 nominated films to watch. What lesson would I have learnt from the Oscar’s? What brilliant secret would each film hold? Honestly, it would only remind me that less is more and it’s a shame that the Oscars still haven figured this out as yet!